John 4:22 (WEB)
You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.
Catechism · 1
“Far from having been hostile to the Temple, where he gave the essential part of his teaching, Jesus was willing to pay the Temple-tax, associating with him Peter, whom he had just made the foundation of his future Church.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 8:4; 16:18; 17:24-27; Lk 17:14; Jn 4:22; 18:20.
Fathers and councils · 33
Gregory of Nyssa
“…Holy Spirit), and brings forward to reproach our ignorance that phrase which is continually alleged by the disciples of deceit, “‘Ye worship ye know not what,’ if ye know not the essence of that which ye worship,” we shall follow the advice of the prophet, and not fear the reproach of fools, nor be led by their…” — editor's note: S. John iv. 22
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John Damascene
“Others again have reference to His appropriation of the personal life of the Jews, in numbering Himself among the Jews, as He saith to the Samaritan woman, Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship, far salvation is of the Jews.” — editor's note: St. John. iv. 22.
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Ambrose of Milan
“But if any one were to say that the Son worships God the Father, because it is written, “Ye worship ye know not what, we know what we worship,” let him consider when it was said, and to whom, and to whose wishes it was in answer.” — editor's note: S. John iv. 22.
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Augustine of Hippo
“For “salvation is of the Jews,” is nothing else than that Christ is of the Jews.” — editor's note: John iv. 22.
Read the whole comment“For he prayeth in the spirit and in truth, who prayeth in the peace of the Church; not in that temple, wherein was the figure.…” — editor's note: John iv. 21–24.
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John Chrysostom
“John iv. 21, 22” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And indeed in many instances He replies to the secret thoughts of them that come unto Him; as when He saith, “We worship we know what;”and, “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”” — editor's note: John iv. 22.
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Tertullian
“…as when to the Samaritaness—not an adulteress by her now sixth marriage, but a prostitute—He showed (what He did show readily to any one) who He was;—no benefit is hence conferred upon our adversaries, even if it had been to such as were already Christians that He (in these several cases) granted pardon.” — editor's note: John iv. 1–25.
Read the whole comment“…to the priests,” because these were to be found only there where the temple was; submitting the Samaritan to the Jew, inasmuch as “salvation was of the Jews,” whether to the Israelite or the Samaritan.” — editor's note: John iv. 22.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“For God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in the Spirit and in truth, for God is Spirit.” — editor's note: Ib. 21–24.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The woman is not offended at Christ’s rebuke. She does not leave Him, and go away. Far from it: her admiration for Him is raised: The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that Thou art a Prophet: as if she said, Thy…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The husband was beginning to come to her, though He had not yet fully come. She thought our Lord a prophet, and He was a prophet: for He says of Himself, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
And having come to this belief she asks no questions relating to this life, the health or sickness of the body: she is not troubled about thirst, she is eager for doctrine.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
And she begins enquiries on a subject that perplexed her; Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. This was a great dispute between the Samaritans…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
By, our fathers, she means Abraham, who is said to have offered up Isaac here.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; The Samaritans regarded Mount Gerizim, near which Jacob dwelt, as sacred, and worshipped upon it; while the sacred place of the Jews was Mount Sion, God’s own choice. The Jews being the people from whom…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Christ however does not solve this question immediately, but leads the woman to higher things, of which He had not spoken till she acknowledged Him to be a prophet, and therefore listened with a more full belief:…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Believe Me, our Lord says with fitness, as the husband is now present. For now there is one in thee that believes, thou hast begun to be present in the understanding; but if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
In saying, the hour cometh, He refers to the Gospel dispensation, which was now approaching; under which the shadows of types were to withdraw, and the pure light of truth was to enlighten the minds of believers.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
There was no necessity for Christ to shew why the fathers worshipped in the mountain, and the Jews in Jerusalem. He therefore was silent on that question; but nevertheless asserted the religious superiority of the…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Ye, literally refers to the Samaritans, but mystically, to all who understand the Scriptures in an heretical sense. We again literally means the Jews, but mystically, I the Word, and all who conformed to My Image,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The Samaritans worshipped they knew not what, a local, a partial God, as they imagined, of whom they had the same notion that they had of their idols. And therefore they mingled the worship of God with the worship of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
It is saying much for the Jews, to declare in their name, We worship what we know. But He does not speak for the reprobate Jews, but for that party from whom the Apostles and the Prophets came. Such were all those…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The Jewish worship then was far higher than the Samaritan; but even it shall be abolished; The hour cometh, and now is, when, the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. He says, and now is,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or by saying, true, he excludes the Jews together with the Samaritans. For the Jews, though better than the Samaritans, were yet as much inferior to those who were to succeed them, as the type is to the reality. The…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Twice it is said, The hour cometh, and the first time without the addition, and now is. The first seems to allude to that purely spiritual worship which is suited only to a state of perfection; the second to earthly…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He speaks here of the Church; wherein there is true worship, and such as becometh God; and therefore adds, For the Father seeketh such to worship Him. For though formerly He willed that mankind should linger under a…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
But if the Father seeks, He seeks through Jesus, Who came to seek and to save that which was lost, and to teach men what true worship was. God is a Spirit; i. e. He constitutes our real life, just as our breath…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or it signifies that God is incorporeal; and that therefore He ought to be worshipped not with the body, but with the soul, by the offering up a pure mind, i. e. that they who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on John
Or, by saying that God being a Spirit ought to be worshipped in spirit, He indicates the freedom and knowledge of the worshippers, and the uncircumscribed nature of the worship: according to the saying of the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
And that we are to worship in truth, means that whereas the former ordinances were typical; that is to say, circumcision, burnt offerings, and sacrifices; now, on the contrary, every thing is real.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Or, because many think that they worship God in the spirit, i. e. with the mind, who yet held heretical doctrines concerning Him, for this reason He adds, and in truth. May not the words too refer to the two kinds of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
O for a mountain to pray on, thou criest, high and inaccessible, that I may be nearer to God, and God may hear me better, for He dwelleth on high. Yes, God dwelleth on high, but He hath respect unto the humble.…
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Cross-references · 15
Cited together in Against Eunomius III.5.
Cited together in Against Eunomius III.5.
Cited together in Against Eunomius III.5.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 4:19–24 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Against Eunomius III.5.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 131.
Cited together in Against Eunomius III.5.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 4:19–24 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.5.